Photograph by Eleanor Lattimore
THOUGH MUCH MARRIED, A PANAMIK GIRL REMAINS COQUETTISH
Polyandry flourishes in Ladakh. The laughing young woman wears the
matron's headdress that proves she has one or more husbands. Her hair,
puffed out like a wig, is full of grease and has never been washed. Lumps
of turquoise decorate her cap.
THE LADAKH MOTHER CARRIES
HER
BABY
INABASKET
Partly because of the scarcityoflive
stock
inacountry
where
grazing
is scant, burdens must be borneinmany
places
on
the
backs
ofthe
natives.
As packers, the men are little sturdier
than
their
wives.
This
woman
has
her hair braided into flat muffsover
her
ears.
Itisnever
combed
out.